therather，ashelooksoutoftemperwhenhegivesthefire-plugadisparagingwrenchwiththatlargetuning-forkofhiswhichwouldwearouttheshoulderofhiscoat，butforaprecautionarypieceofinlaidleather。Fire-ladders，whichIamsatisfiednobodyknowsanythingabout，andthekeysofwhichwerelostinancienttimes，moulderawayinthelargerchurchyards，undereaveslikewoodeneyebrows；andsoremovedarethosecornersfromthehauntsofmenandboys，thatonceonafifthofNovemberIfounda’Guy’trustedtotakecareofhimselfthere，whilehisproprietorshadgonetodinner。OftheexpressionofhisfaceIcannotreport，becauseitwasturnedtothewall；buthisshruggedshouldersandhistenextendedfingers，appearedtodenotethathehadmoralisedinhislittlestrawchaironthemysteryofmortalityuntilhegaveitupasabadjob。
Youdonotcomeuponthesechurchyardsviolently；thereareshapesoftransitionintheneighbourhood。Anantiquatednewsshop，orbarber’sshop，apparentlybereftofcustomersintheearlierdaysofGeorgetheThird，wouldwarnmetolookoutforone，ifanydiscoveriesinthisrespectwereleftformetomake。Averyquietcourt，incombinationwithanunaccountabledyer’sandscourer’s，wouldpreparemeforachurchyard。Anexceedinglyretiringpublic-
house，withabagatelle-boardshadilyvisibleinasawdustyparlourshapedlikeanomnibus，andwithashelfofpunch-bowlsinthebar，wouldapprisemethatIstoodnearconsecratedground。A’Dairy，’
exhibitinginitsmodestwindowoneverylittlemilk-canandthreeeggs，wouldsuggesttomethecertaintyoffindingthepoultryhardby，peckingatmyforefathers。IfirstinferredthevicinityofSaintGhastlyGrim，fromacertainairofextrareposeandgloompervadingavaststackofwarehouses。
Fromthehushoftheseplaces，itiscongenialtopassintothehushedresortsofbusiness。DownthelanesIliketoseethecartsandwaggonshuddledtogetherinrepose，thecranesidle，andthewarehousesshut。PausinginthealleysbehindtheclosedBanksofmightyLombard-street，itgivesoneasgoodasarichfeelingtothinkofthebroadcounterswitharimalongtheedge，madefortellingmoneyouton，thescalesforweighingpreciousmetals，theponderousledgers，and，aboveall，thebrightcoppershovelsforshovellinggold。WhenIdrawmoney，itneverseemssomuchmoneyaswhenitisshovelledatmeoutofabrightcoppershovel。I
liketosay，’Ingold，’andtoseesevenpoundsmusicallypouringoutoftheshovel，likeseventy；theBankappearingtoremarktome-IitaliciseAPPEARING-’ifyouwantmoreofthisyellowearth，wekeepitinbarrowsatyourservice。’Tothinkofthebanker’sclerkwithhisdeftfingerturningthecrispedgesoftheHundred-
PoundNoteshehastakeninafatrolloutofadrawer，isagaintoheartherustlingofthatdelicioussouth-cashwind。’Howwillyouhaveit？’IonceheardthisusualquestionaskedataBankCounterofanelderlyfemale，habitedinmourningandsteepedinsimplicity，whoanswered，open-eyed，crook-fingered，laughingwithexpectation，’Anyhow！’CallingthesethingstomindasIstrollamongtheBanks，IwonderwhethertheothersolitarySundaymanI
pass，hasdesignsupontheBanks。Fortheinterestandmysteryofthematter，Ialmosthopehemayhave，andthathisconfederatemaybeatthismomenttakingimpressionsofthekeysoftheironclosetsinwax，andthatadelightfulrobberymaybeincourseoftransaction。AboutCollege-hill，Mark-lane，andsoontowardstheTower，andDockward，thedesertedwine-merchants’cellarsarefinesubjectsforconsideration；butthedesertedmoney-cellarsoftheBankers，andtheirplate-cellars，andtheirjewel-cellars，whatsubterraneanregionsoftheWonderfulLamparethese！Andagain:
possiblysomeshoelessboyinrags，passedthroughthisstreetyesterday，forwhomitisreservedtobeaBankerinthefulnessoftime，andtobesurpassingrich。Suchreverseshavebeen，sincethedaysofWhittington；andwere，longbefore。Iwanttoknowwhethertheboyhasanyforeglitteringofthatglitteringfortunenow，whenhetreadsthesestones，hungry。MuchasIalsowanttoknowwhetherthenextmantobehangedatNewgateyonder，hadanysuspicionuponhimthathewasmovingsteadilytowardsthatfate，whenhetalkedsomuchaboutthelastmanwhopaidthesamegreatdebtatthesamesmallDebtors’Door。
Whereareallthepeoplewhoonbusyworking-dayspervadethesescenes？Thelocomotivebanker’sclerk，whocarriesablackportfoliochainedtohimbyachainofsteel，whereishe？Doeshegotobedwithhischainon-tochurchwithhischainon-ordoeshelayitby？Andifhelaysitby，whatbecomesofhisportfoliowhenheisunchainedforaholiday？Thewastepaperbasketsoftheseclosedcounting-houseswouldletmeintomanyhintsofbusinessmattersifIhadtheexplorationofthem；andwhatsecretsoftheheartshouldIdiscoveronthe’pads’oftheyoungclerks-
thesheetsofcartridge-paperandblotting-paperinterposedbetweentheirwritingandtheirdesks！Padsaretakenintoconfidenceonthetenderestoccasions，andoftentimeswhenIhavemadeabusinessvisit，andhavesentinmynamefromtheouteroffice，haveIhaditforcedonmydiscursivenoticethattheofficiatingyounggentlemanhasoverandoveragaininscribedAMELIA，ininkofvariousdates，oncornersofhispad。Indeed，thepadmayberegardedasthelegitimatemodernsuccessoroftheoldforest-tree:
whereontheseyoungknightshavingnoattainableforestnearerthanEppingengravethenamesoftheirmistresses。Afterall，itisamoresatisfactoryprocessthancarving，andcanbeoftenerrepeated。SothesecourtsintheirSundayrestarecourtsofLoveOmnipotentIrejoicetobethinkmyself，dryastheylook。AndhereisGarraway’s，boltedandshutteredhardandfast！Itispossibletoimaginethemanwhocutsthesandwiches，onhisbackinahayfield；itispossibletoimaginehisdesk，likethedeskofaclerkatchurch，withouthim；butimaginationisunabletopursuethemenwhowaitatGarraway’salltheweekforthemenwhonevercome。WhentheyareforciblyputoutofGarraway’sonSaturdaynight-whichtheymustbe，fortheyneverwouldgooutoftheirownaccord-wheredotheyvanishuntilMondaymorning？OnthefirstSundaythatIeverstrayedhere，Iexpectedtofindthemhoveringabouttheselanes，likerestlessghosts，andtryingtopeepintoGarraway’sthroughchinksintheshutters，ifnotendeavouringtoturnthelockofthedoorwithfalsekeys，picks，andscrew-drivers。Butthewonderis，thattheygocleanaway！
AndnowIthinkofit，thewonderis，thateveryworking-daypervaderofthesescenesgoescleanaway。Themanwhosellsthedogs’collarsandthelittletoycoal-scuttles，feelsunderasgreatanobligationtogoafaroff，asGlynandCo。，orSmith，Payne，andSmith。Thereisanoldmonastery-cryptunderGarraway’sIhavebeeninitamongtheportwine，andperhapsGarraway’s，takingpityonthemouldymenwhowaitinitspublic-roomalltheirlives，givesthemcoolhouse-roomdownthereoverSundays；butthecatacombsofPariswouldnotbelargeenoughtoholdtherestofthemissing。ThischaracteristicofLondonCitygreatlyhelpsitsbeingthequaintplaceitisintheweeklypauseofbusiness，andgreatlyhelpsmySundaysensationinitofbeingtheLastMan。Inmysolitude，theticket-portersbeingallgonewiththerest，I
venturetobreathetothequietbricksandstonesmyconfidentialwondermentwhyaticket-porter，whoneverdoesanyworkwithhishands，isboundtowearawhiteapron，andwhyagreatEcclesiasticalDignitary，whoneverdoesanyworkwithhishandseither，isequallyboundtowearablackone。
Beforethewaitresshadshutthedoor，Ihadforgottenhowmanystage-coachesshesaidusedtochangehorsesinthetowneveryday。
Butitwasoflittlemoment；anyhighnumberwoulddoaswellasanother。Ithadbeenagreatstage-coachingtowninthegreatstage-coachingtimes，andtheruthlessrailwayshadkilledandburiedit。
ThesignofthehousewastheDolphin’sHead。Whyonlyhead，I
don’tknow；fortheDolphin’seffigyatfulllength，andupsidedown-asaDolphinisalwaysboundtobewhenartisticallytreated，thoughIsupposeheissometimesrightsideupwardinhisnaturalcondition-gracedthesign-board。Thesign-boardchafeditsrustyhooksoutsidethebow-windowofmyroom，andwasashabbywork。NovisitorcouldhavedeniedthattheDolphinwasdyingbyinches，butheshowednobrightcolours。Hehadonceservedanothermaster；therewasanewerstreakofpaintbelowhim，displayingwithinconsistentfreshnessthelegend，ByJ。MELLOWS。
Mydooropenedagain，andJ。Mellows’srepresentativecameback。I
hadaskedherwhatIcouldhavefordinner，andshenowreturnedwiththecounterquestion，whatwouldIlike？AstheDolphinstoodpossessedofnothingthatIdolike，Iwasfaintoyieldtothesuggestionofaduck，whichIdon’tlike。J。Mellows’srepresentativewasamournfulyoungwomanwitheyesusceptibleofguidance，andoneuncontrollableeye；whichlatter，seemingtowanderinquestofstage-coaches，deepenedthemelancholyinwhichtheDolphinwassteeped。
ThisyoungwomanhadbutshutthedooronretiringagainwhenI
bethoughtmeofaddingtomyorder，thewords，’withnicevegetables。’Lookingoutatthedoortogivethememphaticutterance，Ifoundheralreadyinastateofpensivecatalepsyinthedesertedgallery，pickingherteethwithapin。
AttheRailwayStationsevenmilesoff，IhadbeenthesubjectofwonderwhenIorderedaflyinwhichtocomehere。AndwhenIgavethedirection’TotheDolphin’sHead，’Ihadobservedanominousstareonthecountenanceofthestrongyoungmaninvelveteen，whowastheplatformservantoftheCompany。Hehadalsocalledtomydriveratparting，’Allri-ight！Don’thangyourselfwhenyougetthere，Geo-o-rge！’inasarcastictone，forwhichIhadentertainedsometransitorythoughtsofreportinghimtotheGeneralManager。
Ihadnobusinessinthetown-Ineverhaveanybusinessinanytown-butIhadbeencaughtbythefancythatIwouldcomeandlookatitinitsdegeneracy。MypurposewasfitlyinauguratedbytheDolphin’sHead，whicheverywhereexpressedpastcoachfulnessandpresentcoachlessness。Colouredprintsofcoaches，starting，arriving，changinghorses，coachesinthesunshine，coachesinthesnow，coachesinthewind，coachesinthemistandrain，coachesontheKing’sbirthday，coachesinallcircumstancescompatiblewiththeirtriumphandvictory，butneverintheactofbreakingdownoroverturning，pervadedthehouse。Oftheseworksofart，some，framedandnotglazed，hadholesinthem；thevarnishofothershadbecomesobrownandcracked，thattheylookedlikeoverdonepie-
crust；thedesignsofotherswerealmostobliteratedbythefliesofmanysummers。Brokenglasses，damagedframes，lop-sidedhanging，andconsignmentofincurablecripplestoplacesofrefugeindarkcorners，attestedthedesolationoftherest。TheoldroomonthegroundfloorwherethepassengersoftheHighflyerusedtodine，hadnothinginitbutawretchedshowoftwigsandflower-